A proposed residential development near Dorman Road and Lithia Pinecrest Road is moving closer to a final decision, raising questions about how continued growth in rural Lithia could affect surrounding communities, including Bloomingdale.
The proposal would allow up to 280 single-family homes on approximately 190 acres north of Dorman Road and west of Browning Road. The property is currently within Hillsborough County’s Rural Service Area, where existing land-use rules would allow roughly 37 homes. Moving the property into the Urban Service Area would make the higher-density development possible. County planning staff previously found the proposal consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, while development staff recommended approval with conditions.
Supporters of the proposal have argued that the project represents a relatively low-density approach to accommodating continued growth in Hillsborough County. The development plan also includes wetlands, open space and buffers intended to separate new homes from neighboring properties. If approved, the project is expected to generate approximately $6.65 million in impact fees for transportation, schools, parks and fire services.
Opponents, including members of Preserve Rural Lithia, have raised concerns about increased density, flooding, compatibility with existing rural properties and the potential strain on local infrastructure. More than 100 residents attended a June commission meeting, where commissioners voted 5-2 to allow the proposal to continue through the review process.
Transportation remains one of the larger concerns. County reviews estimate the proposed development could generate approximately 2,500 vehicle trips per day. Plans call for a roundabout at the development’s entrance on Lithia Pinecrest Road, but additional traffic would ultimately enter a roadway already serving residents traveling between Lithia, FishHawk, Bloomingdale and Brandon.
The effects, therefore, may not stop at Dorman Road. Lithia Pinecrest remains one of the area’s primary north-south corridors, carrying traffic toward Bloomingdale Avenue and the neighborhoods surrounding it. Hillsborough County is already studying improvements along roughly 6.2 miles of Lithia Pinecrest between FishHawk Boulevard and Lumsden Road specifically to address congestion and safety. Potential improvements under consideration include additional roadway capacity, turn lanes, signal coordination and pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
For Bloomingdale residents, additional development farther south could mean more vehicles traveling north on Lithia Pinecrest and eventually dispersing onto Bloomingdale Avenue and nearby neighborhood roads. How significant that impact would be depends on future traffic patterns and whatever transportation improvements accompany the development.
The proposal still faces another important step. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to consider the related Comprehensive Plan amendments Thursday, Aug. 13, at 6 p.m. That hearing will help determine whether the land-use changes necessary for the project can move forward.
The decision represents a broader question facing eastern Hillsborough County: how to accommodate continued residential growth while maintaining the roads, infrastructure and rural character that existing communities rely on.